Legs
usually riding on Zwift...
- Location
- Staffordshire
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Peter Salt
Bittersweet
- Location
- Yorkshire, UK
Stupid question from someone who actually never owned a set: How do you miscalibrate those by 25%? Wouldn't a margin like that require some type of sophisticated tampering?
I'm no expert on that (I don't even own a PM) but I understand there's a relatively easy way to do it with some pedal PMs by setting the crank length different to what you actually have, and some further basic fudging with the PM app or Garmin
alex_cycles
Veteran
- Location
- Oxfordshire
I've not done it, but I believe there is a way to recalibrate power meter pedals by hanging weights off them. You could just input the wrong values when doing it (but there is a lot of confusion around use of the word calibration because Garmin and most of the other power meter makers use the term "calibrate" to describe the Zero offset that you're meant to do before every ride
)It can, but that's why they have dual recording - it would be extremely unlikely that both the trainer and the PM were mis-calbrated by exactly the same amount.
I'm not sure what trainer he was using
Peter Salt
Bittersweet
- Location
- Yorkshire, UK
OK, got it. I was initially thinking that he applied the same cheating model to both power sources and didn't understand how that would be possible in a controlled test. Looks like he did the Ant+ shenanigans with his trainer and for the pedals played around with miscalibration, made sure that both report the same levels of power so the dual recording looked legit. This guy went through some lengths!
JuhaL
Guru
That's true. Only way how power meter and trainer can show same readings is Elite trainers PML (powermeter link). It means that you can use same separate power meter with trainer what is installed to your bike. That feature is only with Elite trainers though. Is dual recording eliminate that as well?.
I don't really know how that Elite thing works but ultimately they have to provide a separate recording of power from a power meter source other than their trainer - literally a spearate data file
Nah, I'd still be C cat 😉
Brusgaard
Über Guru
- Location
- Skive, Denmark
If you (read: a computer (PC or Raspberry Pi etc.)) read the ANT+ signals from your trainer and PM, add 25% to the power value and then relay/retransmit the signal to the bike computer and the Zwift computer. I suspect that is how it was done?
mjd1988
Guru
It is scary to think loads of people may be doing this, they just didn't turn the juice up to 11
alex_cycles
Veteran
- Location
- Oxfordshire
D'you think it's really likely though? Unless you're competing for real prizes, what's the gain?
Brusgaard
Über Guru
- Location
- Skive, Denmark
Well, lots of reasons. To get sponsors, YouTube views/subscribers (and then more sponsors), popular, invites to special events etc.
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
I do Alex. I don’t get it at all. But I see it. Doping is rife in amateur bike racing. They just don’t have the funding or infrastructure to catch it. Often middle aged men, prepared to put their health jeopardy taking EPO for zero financial gain. There’s always going to be people prepared to cheat given the opportunity. And often for very little reward if any on offer.
There’s a sliding scale really isn’t there? A sliding scale of ethics if you can call it that? This guy is at the extreme end maybe. Or maybe the drug cheats are. At the other end you have completely honest people. Then in between you have the weight dopers, the sandbaggers etc etc etc. Why do people do any of this stuff. I guess we all draw our own ethical line right?
